Spring-biased latch means for a sliding jaw wrench



Sept. 9, 1958 T. L. BoNKowsKl 2,850,932

SPRING-BIAS@ LATCH MEANS FOR A SLIDING JAW WRENCH Filed Deo. 19, 1956 r TOP/VE V5 United States Patent O SPRING-BIASED LATCH MEANS Fon A sLrDlN JAW WRENCH This invention relates to wrenches, and included in the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a wrench wherein a rack associated with a movable jaw and a latch block mounted in the wrench handle cooperate to secure the movable jaw in a plurality of predetermined positions relative to a fixed jaw.

Second, to provide a wrench of this type wherein the movable jaw is provided with a maximum side support to prevent side wobble relative to the fixed jaw without interfering with ease of movementof the movable jaw.

Third, to provide a wrench of this type wherein a spring urges the movable jaw to a predetermined maximum open position on disengagement of the latch block, and wherein the movable jaw may be moved manually toward the fixed jaw without manipulation of the latch block.

Fourth, to provide a wrench of this type which is i particularly simple and economical of manufacture. j i

With the above and other objects in View, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the wrench with the handle broken away;

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional, partial side View thereof, taken substantially along the line 2 2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view thereof taken through 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view thereof taken through 4 4 of Fig. 2.

The wrench includes a body 1 having an end face 2, at one extremity of which is a fixed jaw 3 projecting outwardly from the end face 2 and having a jaw face at right angles to the end face. A handle 4 extends from the opposite side of the body 1, preferably at an angle to the end face 2.

The body 1 is provided with a slideway 5 extending from its upper end to its lower end parallel with the end face 2. The slideway communicates with the end face below the fixed jaw 3 by means of a slot 6. The wall of the slideway 5 opposite from the slot 6 is provided with a channel 7.

A movable jaw 8 confronts the fixed jaw 3 and is joined to a web 9 which fits slidably in the slot 6. The web 9 in turn is laterally enlarged to form a guide bar 10 which fits slidably in the slideway 5. The guide bar is provided with a rib 11 at its side opposite from the web 9 which rides in the channel 7. The extremity of the rib 11 is provided with rack teeth 12.

' By reason of the web 9, guide bar 10, and rib 11 fitting, respectively, in the slot 6, slideway 5, and channel 7, the movable jaw 8 may be freely slidable to and from the fixed jaw 3, but is restrained against any lateral displacement by the side bearings afforded by the rib 11 as well as the guide bar 10 and web 9.

The guide bar 10 is provided with a longitudinal socket 13 which receives a spring 14. The upper end of the slideway 5 is closed by an abutment block 15 which may 2,850,932 Patented` Sept. 9, 1958 be secured therein by staking 16 or other suitable means. Extending from the abutment block 1S is a guide pin 17 which projects downwardly through the spring 14. The spring 14 thus urges the movable jaw 8 to its extended position relative to the fixed jaw 3.

Y The body 1 is provided with a transverse aperture 18, one wall of which intersects the channel 7. Mounted within the aperture 18 for limited slidable movement is a latch block 19 having latch teeth 20 which engage the rack teeth 12. The opposite sides of the latch block 19 are provided with handle knobs 2.1 which may be knurled.

The latch block 19 is held in place within the aperture 18 by retaining plates 22 fitted on opposite sides of the body 1. The retaining plates 22 include offset central portions which extend slightly within the extremities of the aperture 18 and marginal rims 23 which overlie the The retaining plates 22 are slotted so that the handlel knobs 21 protrude therefrom and sufiicient clearance is provided to permit movement of the latch teeth 20 to and from engagement with the rack teeth 12.

The side of the latch block 19 remote from the latch' -teeth 20 is provided with a socket 26 which receives a spring 27 so as to urge the latch teeth 20 into engage-U ment with the rack teeth 12.

In order to limit travel of the movable jaw 8, the` upper end of the rib 11 above the rackA teeth 12 may;v

project slightly beyond the rack teeth to form a stop 28. The permissible travel of the latch block 19 may be such that the upper side thereof does not clear the stop 28 and thus limits movement of the movable jaw 8.

The wrench is assembled by staking the abutment block 15 in place, inserting the movable jaw 8 and its spring 14, then inserting the latch block 19 laterally into its aperture 18 and riveting the retaining plates 22 in place.

The movable jaw 8 of the wrench is moved toward the fixed jaw 3 by pressing upwardly on the underside of the movable jaw or the protruding end of the guide bar 10. The wrench is expanded by drawing backward, or to the right, as viewed in the drawings, on the handle knobs 21 of the latch block.

It will be noted in Fig. l that a scale 29 may be provided on one side of the body member 1, the markings of which are spaced in accordance with the spacing on the rack teeth 12, so that the wrench may be preset to various jaw spacings corresponding to the various bolt or nut sizes within the capacity of the wrench.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the exact details of the construction set forth, and it embraces such changes, modifications, and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A wrench, comprising: a body member defining a slideway, a slit communicating between one side of said slideway and an end of said body member, a channel along the other side of the slideway, and a transverse aperture intersecting said channel, said body member including a fixed jaw at one end of the body member having a jaw face normal to said slideway; a movable jaw structure including a movable jaw element confronting said fixed jaw, a web extending from said element through said slit, a guide bar joined to said rib and slidable in said slideway, a rib fitting said channel, and rack teeth on said rib; a latch block fitted in said aperture and engageable with said rack teeth; cover plates secured over both ends of said aperture to retain said latch block therein, said plates having slots and said latch block having projections extending therethrough for manual access from either side of said body member.

2. A wrench, comprising: a body member definingA a slideway open at its extremities, a slit communicating between one side of said slideway and an end of said body member, a channel along the other side of the slideway extending to the extremities thereof, and a transverse aperture intersecting said channel, said body member including a fixed jaw at one end of the body member having a jaw face normal to said slideway; a movable jaw stmcture including a movable jaw element confronting said fixed jaw, a web extendingl from said element through said slit, a guide bar joined to said rib and slidable in said slideway, a rib fitting said channel, and rack teeth on said rib; a plug closing the end of' said slideway remote from said guide bar; means for securing said plug in place; a spring extending from said plug to said guide bar, said guide bar having a socket therein to receive a portion of said spring; and a latch block fitted in said aperture and engageable with said rack teeth.

3. A wrench, comprising: a body member defining a slideway, a slit communicating between one side of said slideway and an end of said body member, a channel along the other side of the slideway, and a transverse aperture intersecting said channel, said body member including a fixed jaw at one end of the body member having a jaw face normal to said slideway; a movable jaw structure including a movable jaw element confronting said fixed jaw, a web extending from said element through said slit, a guide bar joined to said rib and slidable in said slideway, a rib fitting said channel, and rack teeth on said rib; a plug closing the end of said slideway 35 remote from said guide bar; a spring extending from said plug to said guide bar, said guide bar having a socket therein to receive a portion of said spring; a latch block fitted in said aperture and engageable with said rack teeth; and cover plates secured over both ends of said aperture to retain said latch block therein, said plates having slots and said latch block having projections extending therethrough for manual access from either side of said body member.

4. A wrench, comprising: a body member including a fixed jaw having a work engaging face, said body member defining a bore extending therethrough along an axis normal to said face, and an aperture disposed transverse to said bore, said body member having recessed areas surrounding each extremity of said aperture; a movable jaw structure including a guide bar slidable in said bore and a movable jaw element confronting said fixed jaw to engage the opposite side of a workpiece, said guide bar having rack teeth confronting said aperture; a latch block fitted in said aperture and engageable with said rack; cover plates secured in said recessed areas to retain said latch block in said aperture, said plates having slots and said latch block having projections extending therethrough for manual access from either side of said body member.

FOREIGN PATENTS France Apr. 7, 1922 

